An old man said:<\/p>\n

“live one day at a time<\/p>\n

– who can add a day to his life by worrying?”<\/p>\n

Though we’re young<\/p>\n

we’ve seen what worry can do<\/p>\n

so embrace these worried songs we sing to you<\/p>\n

So mournful the elegy<\/p>\n

and so comforting the hymn<\/p>\n

– we ought to sing when we lie in our beds<\/p>\n

in the quiet hour<\/p>\n

we remember what he said<\/p>\n

but we’re young<\/p>\n

and we’ve seen what worry can do<\/p>\n

so embrace these worried hearts we bring to you<\/p>\n

So mournful the elegy<\/p>\n

and so comforting the hymn<\/p>\n

When Selma, the blind and the bold,<\/p>\n

told the tale of the untold<\/p>\n

we could grow old<\/p>\n

and as she gets strangled you’re holding my hand<\/p>\n

in prayer<\/p>\n

that we’ll never end<\/p>\n

oh no we’ll never end<\/p>\n

as a snowflake endures on my tongue<\/p>\n

in seconds before it is gone<\/p>\n

we’ll be<\/p>\n

dew before the sun<\/p>\n

See! It’s unnecessary to be afraid<\/p>\n

we will join the great parade<\/p>\n

and we’ll sing<\/p>\n

hallelujah to the King<\/p>\n

in a different light we will see<\/p>\n

who we were meant to be<\/p>\n

until then<\/p>\n

we’re just like the sun and the moon<\/p>\n

I’ll fade if you’re setting too soon!<\/p>\n

Sun and moon! Be still!<\/p>\n

Your breath – the most perfect of songs<\/p>\n

on hills and in valleys<\/p>\n

of longing<\/p>\n

we can go<\/p>\n

on and on<\/p>\n

I’ll sing to your Maker and praise<\/p>\n

your wonders and then He will raise<\/p>\n

a banner of love<\/p>\n

and though I know<\/p>\n

that thousands of poets have sung<\/p>\n

your beauty<\/p>\n

then none of them, none<\/p>\n

have seen<\/p>\n

that you belong with me<\/p>\n

I remember when you said<\/p>\n

you were full of sparks in your head.<\/p>\n

Your words were fireworks in me,<\/p>\n

I saw my fire work in you.<\/p>\n

I thought your skin was like a veil<\/p>\n

concealing hope and fairy tales,<\/p>\n

and your hands were like a map<\/p>\n

from where many will find their way back<\/p>\n

(at least I did\u2026)<\/p>\n

Through fire,<\/p>\n

through water,<\/p>\n

through death do us,<\/p>\n

death do us part.<\/p>\n

Through fire,<\/p>\n

through water,<\/p>\n

through death do us,<\/p>\n

death do us part.<\/p>\n

You showed me where the swans would nest,<\/p>\n

you let the silence do the rest.<\/p>\n

And in that room of pearly white<\/p>\n

I saw your darkness and your light!<\/p>\n

So when you get lost,<\/p>\n

then I can find the architecture of your mind.<\/p>\n

In quiet buildings you belong,<\/p>\n

and I’ll be there to sing this song:<\/p>\n

“Through fire,<\/p>\n

through water,<\/p>\n

through death do us, death do us part!<\/p>\n

Through rainbows,<\/p>\n

through rainfall,<\/p>\n

through flood streams of tears!<\/p>\n

Through failure,<\/p>\n

through absence,<\/p>\n

through presence of human time!<\/p>\n

Through everything<\/p>\n

with love<\/p>\n

with love!<\/p>\n

Through fire,<\/p>\n

through water,<\/p>\n

and through death do us,<\/p>\n

death do us part!”<\/p>\n

I spent the night in the forest,<\/p>\n

you were with me when I cried,<\/p>\n

when I cried:<\/p>\n

“Oh where is the light?”<\/p>\n

I spent all day in my mindscape,<\/p>\n

you were with me<\/p>\n

when I wept,<\/p>\n

when I wept,<\/p>\n

you watched me when I slept.<\/p>\n

Skies have grown darker,<\/p>\n

but stars have grown brighter,<\/p>\n

and my room,<\/p>\n

and my room<\/p>\n

is a safe cocoon!<\/p>\n

Streets have gone misty,<\/p>\n

but peace is upon me when I sing,<\/p>\n

when I sing:<\/p>\n

“Holy is the King!”<\/p>\n

and You won’t wash away if I fade,<\/p>\n

and it’s OK to break in two,<\/p>\n

break in two,<\/p>\n

if I’m breaking into you!<\/p>\n

When I am weary<\/p>\n

then I try to think of the words that you told me<\/p>\n

when I said I was a boy<\/p>\n

on a lonely dark fare<\/p>\n

in the middle of nowhere<\/p>\n

nowhere to turn to<\/p>\n

and nowhere to hide<\/p>\n

when I have nowhere to hide<\/p>\n

then I think of the words that you told me<\/p>\n

when I said I was a boy<\/p>\n

not a man<\/p>\n

who knows what he can<\/p>\n

and what he cannot do<\/p>\n

’cause I don’t even know who I am<\/p>\n

when I don’t know who I am<\/p>\n

then I think of the words that you told me<\/p>\n

when I stepped out of the boat<\/p>\n

tried to walk on the waves<\/p>\n

but I sank<\/p>\n

oh I sank<\/p>\n

deeper into the grave of my thought<\/p>\n

When I am deep in the grave of my thought<\/p>\n

I try to think of the words that you told me<\/p>\n

that day in my kitchen<\/p>\n

it was flooded by my tears<\/p>\n

but dried by your words:<\/p>\n

“why are you weary?<\/p>\n

I love you more!”<\/p>\n

The rage burned like a fire in Achilles<\/p>\n

and when it burns in me<\/p>\n

I beg you, please,<\/p>\n

don’t be afraid<\/p>\n

of my rage,<\/p>\n

my love.<\/p>\n

The silence muted Abraham, the true,<\/p>\n

and when it mutes me, too,<\/p>\n

I beg, I beg you<\/p>\n

don’t be confused<\/p>\n

by my silence,<\/p>\n

my love.<\/p>\n

Darkblue skies<\/p>\n

can swallow a man<\/p>\n

completely<\/p>\n

so he does<\/p>\n

what he doesn’t to do<\/p>\n

but in rage<\/p>\n

and in silence<\/p>\n

you<\/p>\n

complete me,<\/p>\n

my love.<\/p>\n

Oh dear, I hear<\/p>\n

the sound of your heart like a leaf on a tree<\/p>\n

in the eye of the storm.<\/p>\n

Oh dear, I hear<\/p>\n

your deepest darkness labyrinth<\/p>\n

blindfolded<\/p>\n

nowhere to end<\/p>\n

Sister Sorrowsong<\/p>\n

Sister Sorrowsong<\/p>\n

Sister Sorrowsong<\/p>\n

We’re a legion<\/p>\n

we’re a million<\/p>\n

who love you,<\/p>\n

Sister Sorrow!<\/p>\n

We have seen your light!<\/p>\n

We’re a legion<\/p>\n

We’re a million<\/p>\n

Who love you,<\/p>\n

Sister Darkness!<\/p>\n

We have seen your light!<\/p>\n

We’re a legion<\/p>\n

we’re a million<\/p>\n

who love you,<\/p>\n

Sister Sorrow!<\/p>\n

We have seen your light!<\/p>\n

Sister Sorrowsong,<\/p>\n

the world is yours to own!<\/p>\n

Sister Sorrowsong,<\/p>\n

the Kingdom is to come!<\/p>\n

So says the daughter of Zion,<\/p>\n

the longing, the wounded, the tired;<\/p>\n

So says the daughter of Zion<\/p>\n

the sighing, the seeing, the shy:<\/p>\n

One is in labour,<\/p>\n

another woman’s womb is closed.<\/p>\n

One is cured,<\/p>\n

and one dies before growing old.<\/p>\n

Oh! Come down while I sleep!<\/p>\n

Come like a thief!<\/p>\n

Steal this night from my eyes,<\/p>\n

replace it with daylight!<\/p>\n

One finds peace and quiet.<\/p>\n

One lies sleepless, haunted.<\/p>\n

One is loved for better,<\/p>\n

one is ignored for worse.<\/p>\n

Oh! Come down while I sleep<\/p>\n

come like a thief<\/p>\n

steal this night from my eyes,<\/p>\n

replace it with daylight.<\/p>\n

Oh! Be merciful!<\/p>\n

Come while I sleep!<\/p>\n

I don’t want to leave<\/p>\n

– or be left behind…<\/p>\n

Come all ye who are heavy burdened.<\/p>\n

Come all ye who are in pain.<\/p>\n

Come all ye who are heavy burdened.<\/p>\n

Come all ye who are in pain.<\/p>\n

– and you may sleep in my gardens,<\/p>\n

you may stay in my house,<\/p>\n

even forever and forever,<\/p>\n

and on and on!<\/p>\n

Come all ye who say “we cannot find our way”.<\/p>\n

Come all ye who say “we’ve survived another day”.<\/p>\n

Come all ye who are tired and weary.<\/p>\n

Come all ye who run, trip and fall.<\/p>\n

– and you may sleep in my gardens,<\/p>\n

you may stay in my house,<\/p>\n

even forever and forever,<\/p>\n

and on and on!<\/p>\n

Have we lost our words<\/p>\n

for this feeling?<\/p>\n

Have we lost our wings<\/p>\n

while flying?<\/p>\n

Did we see the days<\/p>\n

fade away like rain?<\/p>\n

Did we see the sun<\/p>\n

let down everyone?<\/p>\n

Lover! Come here!<\/p>\n

Let me whisper<\/p>\n

a secret in your ear:<\/p>\n

Oh, we could start here:<\/p>\n

Drink deep from the well<\/p>\n

and immerse our hearts in fire!<\/p>\n

And sing new songs together<\/p>\n

for our Lord.<\/p>\n